November 9th

Today we took a quiz on Solutions in Biology. If you were absent today, please make sure that you plan on making up the quiz as soon as possible. Tomorrow we will be completing a study guide for our Unit 2 Test on Cells. Please make sure to be in class on time tomorrow!

Today's journal was:
Complete the following sentence:
Osmosis is the movement of _____________ molecules across a membrane from areas of ___________ concentration to _______________ concentration.

If you have been absent please take the time to look at the websites I have posted over the past few days. Below you will find more links to helpful websites:


Osmosis
Diffusion

Passive & Active Transport

Cell Membrane Passive Transport | Cell Biology

November 5th

Hi Kiddos,

This week we spent a great deal of time learning about solutions in biology; specifically isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic solutions. Yesterday and today we focused on cell transport, diffusion, active transport, and passive transport. Please review the links below so that you stay familiar with the things we are learning over the weekend. You will be receiving a quiz next week on these items on Tuesday. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I will see you Monday! DON'T BE ABSENT!!!

Basic Cell Transport Definitions
Information on Active and Passive Transport (Look at the links on the left hand side of the website)

Today's Journal:
Explain what an aqueous solution is, and provide an example.

Solutions in Biology

Hello and welcome back from your 5 day weekend. I hope you had fun and I hope you are ready to learn all about Solutions, Diffusion, and Osmosis this week.

Today we focused on hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic solutions. The PowerPoint that we worked on today can be found below:

Solutions in Biology

The journal today was:
Explain the difference between cilia and flagella, and describe their function.

Tomorrow we will get started on diffusion and osmosis. See you then!

Oct. 26th

Today we took a break from our cell organelle poster project and focused on the structure and function of the cell membrane. If you were absent today, please take some time to look at the following videos so that you can better understand the cell membrane.


The journal today: If you were running a marathon and needed plenty of energy for your run, what organelle would you need plenty of to ensure that you had the energy to complete the marathon?

Cell membrane Video: Click here

And the second video is below:

Cell Organelle Project

Today we kicked off our Cell Organelles and Analogies Project. If you were absent today, make sure you look at the Lab Group List and find out what lab you were placed in. You will be making posters with your group that provide analogies for each of the following organelles:

• cell wall
• cell membrane
• mitochondria
• nucleus
• lysosome
• chloroplast
• smooth ER
• rough ER
• golgi apparatus
• cytoplasm
• vacuole
• ribosomes
  

If you were absent today, be sure to get the write up for this project, from me ASAP!!!

Here are some great websites for organelle information

Organelles
Awesome website on Organelles and Analogies!

Oct. 20th

Today we focused on the organelles of a eukaryotic cell. Below you will find the vocabulary associated with each organelle.

• synthesis: the process of producing or making something
  

• cell membrane - the part of the cell which separates the external environment from the cytoplasm
• cell wall - in plant cells, a tough, rigid structure made up of cellulose which is outside of the cell membrane
• chloroplast - an organelle present in algae and plant cells that contains chlorophyll and is involved in photosynthesis
• cytoplasm - gel-like substance in which all cellular components outside the nucleus are immersed.

  cytoskeleton - protein lattice structure which gives shape to our cells.

• Golgi apparatus - an organelle in the cytoplasm that packages proteins and carbohydrates into vesicles for export from the cell.
• mitochondrion - organelle where final cellular respiration steps takes place

• nucleus - organelle which contains the DNA, organized into chromosomes; site of mRNA synthesis from DNA.

• organelles - membrane-bound structures found inside the cell cytoplasm.
• ribosome - subcellular structures (typically thousands per cell) that provide sites for protein synthesis; occur in cytoplasm and on rough endoplasmic reticulum.
• rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) - a system of membranous tubes and sacs containing ribosomes which function in the manufacture of membrane-bound proteins.
• smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) - a system of membranous tubes and sacs that functions in lipid synthesis.
• vacuole - large organelle in plant cells that contains water, often having dissolved pigments, waste materials, or other substances
  

The Journal for today was to describe at least three things you know about cells already.

The Homework Assignment for this evening was to:
Write a letter to your grandmother or grandfather describing the similarities and differences between a plant cell and an animal cell. Due 10.21.10

GO HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PLANT VS. ANIMAL CELLS

Oct. 19th Journal and Vocabulary

Today we finally took our Cell Theory Quiz. They should be graded for you by Thursday! If you were absent today (booo) here is what you missed:

Journal

What is the main difference between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells?

Vocabulary

Bacteria: are a large group of single-celled, prokaryote microorganisms

Unicellular: Having or consisting of one cell. Most prokaryotes are unicellular. (Bacteria)

Multicellular: Having or consisting of more than one cell. Examples of organisms that are multicellular are humans, animals and plants...etc.

Tomorrow we start learning about the different cell organelles!!! Stay tuned kiddos!

Oct. 18th Journal and Vocabulary

Today we continued adding to our knowledge of Cell Theory, as well as the differences and similarities between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. We also received a new addition to our family: Sir Mojo Jojo. He appears to be a red spotted toad. One of the seniors at our school found him and donated him to our class. Perhaps he will become BFF's with Frankie and Johnny!

Journal

Describe the theory of Spontaneous Generation.

Vocabulary

• Spontaneous Generation: the theory which states that living things develop from non-living matter
• Cell Theory: (1) All living things are made up of cells. (2) Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in all living things. (3) Cells arise from pre-existing cells.
• Prokaryotes: re a group of organisms that lack a cell nucleus, or any other membrane-bound organelles.
• Eukaryotes: an organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes. The defining membrane-bound structure that sets eukaryotic cells apart from prokaryotic cells is the nucleus.

Microscopes Images

The black and white images were created with an electron microscope (a virus, pollen, and a butterfly head). The last image is of plant cells and created by a simple compound microscope.

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO CELL TYPES

Who is Francesco Redi?

Francesco Redi - One of the first to disprove spontaneous generation. An Italian doctor who proved maggots came from flies, rather than spoiled meat. (Italian 1668)

Spontaneous Generation

• The idea that organisms originate directly from nonliving matter.
• "life from nonlife"

The Components of Cell Theory

The Cell Theory states:

• All living organisms are composed of cells. They may be unicellular or multicellular.
  
• The cell is the basic unit of life.
  
• Cells arise from pre-existing cells.